Folding stair



Oct'. 15, 1929.

' Filed Now. 1o. 1927 R. B. MARSCHKE 1,731,980

4FOLDING sTAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ReinlwldBMLL/Scw atto: wz 14 ct. 15, 1929. R, B, MARSCHKE 1,731,980

FOLDING STAIR Filed Nov. 10, 1927 2 ShHeats-Sheet 2 Patented ct. 15, 1929 PATENT OFFICE FOLDING STAIR Application filed November 10, 1927. Serial No` 232,309.

My invention relates to folding stairs, the primary object of which is to provide a stair with a hanger means wherein the stair may be supported from the `ceiling of a building or from an upper` level casing so that the stair may unfold to a floor below. The hanger being of a simple inexpensive construction yet having adjusting means and a shape such as to provide a most efficient lo means of supporting and operating the stair.

A feature of the invention resides in providing a hanger arm which is easily adjustable as to length after it has been attached in position and having a means for attaching the same on the ends thereofwhich permit of the adjustment by simply rotating the same either in a right orlefthand direction until the hanger arm is of the proper length.

My 'nvention includes a hanger having Arod means which are adapted to form `the supporting arms and which function with other rod means to slideably hold the mem bers together and to permit them to function in a practical manner. `This includes pairs of rods which extend on either sideof the stair which are adjustable as to length and other rods slideably engaging said pair of rods which engage against a shoulder formed on said adjustable rod and which are connected with spring lever means for lifting and balancing the stair in folding, while the other rod means include a member adapted to connect with a lower section and having a long slideable hook end which operates to cause the hanger arm to be rigid while the stair is open7 merely by'holding the stairs to the floor and keeping it from vibrating.

rlhese objects, together with other details and features of the invention will be more fully and clearly set forth in the specication and claims.`

1n the drawings forming part of this specification z i Figure 1 is a perspective view of one side of the stair.

Figure 2 illustrates the stair folded in compact state.

Figure 3 illustrates one of the adjustable rod arms or hangers.

Figure 4 illustrates the attaching flange and nipple.

Figure 5 is a front view of the flange. Figure 6 illustrates the other side view of my stair.

Figure 7 is a detail of one end of the stair when folded.

Figure 8 is a detail of the hanger arm.

Figure 9 is an edge view of the detail illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 illustrates one of the lifting rods for the balancing springs.

Figure 11 illustrates the supporting rod for the lower section.

My folding stair A is formed with an upper section 10, an intermediate section 11, and a lower section 12. The sections 10 and 11` are hinged together'on top of the side rails 13 by the hinges 14, while the sections 11 and 12 are hinged together by the hinge members 15 on the bottom of the rail.

On one side of the stair A I provide a hand rail B which is connected on the bot i tom to the bracket 16 which is attached near the hinging point 111. This bracket 16 is provided with a hinging point 17 so that the rail B may be permitted to assist in lifting the sections 11 and 12 over the center of the point of hinging in the hinges 111. The upper end of the hand rail B is connected to a spring operated arm 18 which is con nected to the side rail 13 of the section 10 and this spring functions to have a tendency to pull upward on the rail B. The object of this spring is that as soon as the stair has started to fold with the section 11 folding over towards the section 10, the hand rail B assists in folding the stair. One of the primary features of the invention resides in the hanger arms C which are adapted to support the main section 10 and connect the same with the casing D above the floor E. These supporting hangers C are in the form of two rods 2O and 2l which have flattened ends adapted to overlap and be hinged together at 22. The rod 20 is formed with an enlarged portion 23, while the rod 21 carries an adjustable Or slideable vcollar 24. The collar 24 is provided with a set screw 25 for holding the same in set poend and to the side goflthe ,..casingfD onthe other end. p

L Il-provdebalancingandilifting springs F which yare adapted tobetfgattachedfto the toothed vmembers: vwhich adjustably enn gage the inner ends of the liftingsprings F, While the other'ends-BL of y.theiflifting l spring, are connected tothe lifting-rods32.

These lifting rods are each formedwith, a hook end 331011 one end and the other end is formed With an attaching end.34'which is attached :tothe .free endy of the an1n'l31- When the stair ispextended `asjillustlated in Figures 1 and 6, then-.the hook endzof the rod 32 which ,is offsetfrom the-body of the rod is adapted toengage the shoulders -28 formed fonthef..portions 20;` Vof the hanger C.

I provide a rodarm which'isadapted Y `to be pivotally connected at: 37 in one of the side rails 13 oppositeyto the'hand ,railv yD `to the section 11; as illustrated in Figure 6.

Theother-.end .of the arm 36 is formed .with an elongated hookiend'BS Which hooks over the lower portion 21 of the hanger Gand is adapted to be engaged by thecollar 24 when the stair is in extended positionas illustrat ed in Figures 1 and 6.

Therods 32 and 36y have their hook ends 33zand 38 respectively, formed so that these rods can be easily hooked over the rods 20 Yand the rod 21tof the vhanger C. This permits the stairA to be easilyassembled and it is an important feature in the present :ha-nger construction of my folding stair A. Theadvant-age of my. present folding stair resides more particularly in the simple easily adjustable `hanger farm C` Which may be turned 2in veither-direction -to lengthen vor shorten the-same owing to the-attachment of theend's' by the leftha-ndy threads and the shoulders 23 which function with the arms 32 to properly engage the rods-of' the hanger C. I provide ashoulder lug 39 on'the hand railB ,which engages against one ofthe hangers C- when.' the stair is extended to steady the1 .samealidk I also providethe rod 36 for .engaging vagainst Y, the..v adjustable eollar 24 on fthel other. hanger rod-:so ,that the hangers are. steadiednonfboth sides-When the stair .is 1n mise. iflhifsipnovides the.necessary means of steadying the hangers at each side of the stair A.

In a stair of this kind it is highly desirable to provide a means of assembly of the parts of a very simple nature. In this hanger means hereinbefore described I have provided such a construction with the parts so arranged and designed that they may be connected together and adjusted very quickly and easily so that stair A can be made up for a reasonable price-and can be readily adjusted to function in a practical manner even `when it is put together by the ordinary carpenter or individual in applying and using my stair. The easy adjustment of the hangers C make it more easy to set up my stair after it is received by the customer even though it is all assembled and ready to be applied in the casing or opening. These stairs are ordinarily sent out all assembled as illustrated in Figure 2, nevertheless. owin g1' to the different adaptations of the same it is possible that the hanger C may need adjustment when the stair is in operative position. This may be due to the position of the floor or other connecting parts. Therefore I have found that the particular hanger means andi connecting rods for operating the same, wherein the parts may be easily connected .together and adjusted are of importance in .t f

my folding stair, yet providing the hanger members and parts strong and of a rigid nature so as to carry the Weight and strain of the load of the stair.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my folding stair and hanger construction and While I have illustrated a particular formation and arrangement of the parts I desire to have it understood that these are only suggestive of a means of carrying out the principles of my invention and that changes and variations may be made within the scope of the following claims Without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

l. A folding stair including, sections hingedly connected together in a manner so as to fold one upon the other into a com pact state. hanger means for supporting and operating said sta-ir including, a pair of adjustable rod members which vare adapted to be lengthened and shortened by rotating in either direction.

2. A folding stair including, a hanger having rod arms pivot-ally connected together, threaded ends formed on said rod arms of a rightand left hand formation, attaching means adapted to engage said threaded ends of said rod arms whereby said rod arms may be lengthened or shortened to properly position and carry'the strain on said stair.

3. A folding stair including, section .adapted to fold together, a hand rail extending along and connected to said stair, a

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spring arm adapted to support and draw 0n said rail to assist in raising said stair, and adjustable piyoted rod members adapted to support said stair on each side thereof.

1l. i staii` hanger comprising, adjustable supporting rods pivotally connected together' in a manner to fold With the stair, said rods including threaded ends to permit the same to be lengthened or shortened by turning the same, a lifting means, and rods connecting' said lifting means with said hanger rods.

A stair hanger for a folding stair comprising, side hanger rods pivotally connected together, threaded ends formed on said rods, means for engaging said threaded ends to pirotally support the saine to the side of the stair and the supporting casing shoulders formed on said rods, a lifting arm adapted to connect With said rods and engage against said shoulder When said arms are extended, and adjustable coil springs Operating means supported in the casing adjacent said rods and adapted to engage one end of said lifting rods.

(i. A hanger for a folding stair. including, a hanger arm formed in two rod-like meinbers pivotally connected together on one end, threads formed on the outer ends of said hanger, an attaching collar, a rotatable nipple 'arried by said collar adapted to receive said threaded ends of said hanger arm, said hanger arm being adjustable by rotating the saine to lengthen or shorten thedistance between the supporting collars and nipples which are adapted to support the ends of said hanger.

7. A hanger and lifter for a folding stair including, pairs of members pivotally connected together', threaded outer ends formed on said members, a rotatable threaded nipple means adapted to engage the threaded ends of said members to permit the same to be lengthened and shortened between the supporting nipples, rigid shoulders formed on some of said members, lifting rods adapted to connect with said shoulders When said members are extended, and spring and lever means adapted to engage said lifting rods to pull against said shoulders on said members to lift and fold a stair.

8. i folding stair including, a series of sections hingedly connected together in a manner to cause one section to fold against the other, a hand rail extending along one side of said stair, a lifting spring `adapted to support one end of said hand rail, a bracket connecting the other end to the adjacent stair section, pairs of hanger members pivotally connected together and disposed in rotatable adjusting members on either side of said stair and connecting one end With a supporting casing, lifting spring members, and lifting rods connecting said spring members With said hanger members, said hand rail assisting in the folding of said stair through the connecting spring thereof, and said hanger member being adapted to be operated by said lifting springs in the folding of said stair.

9. A folding stair including, stair sections adapted to be folded together, rod-like supporting and lifting members on each side of said stair, means for supporting said rods in a manner to permit the same to be lengthened and shortened by rotating the same, lift-ing springs for said rods, and connecting link joining said lifting springs With said rod members adapted to pull on said rod inembers to cause said stair sections to be folded into a compact sta-te.

l0. A folding stair including, sections adapted to fold together, hanger and lifting means comprising foldable hangers, shoulders formed on one portion of said hangers, threaded ends formed on said hangers, threaded rotatable supports for said hangers, lifting springs, and connecting links adapted to connect said springs With said rods in a manner to cause said links to engage against the fixed shoulders on said hangers to equalize the lifting pull of the springs on each side of said stair.

ll. A hanger lifter for folding stair including, lifting springs, hanger arms pivotally connected together and adapted to extend on each side of said stair to connect the same With the supporting casing and form a brace for said stair, means for lengthening and shortening said hanger arms by rotating the same in their supports on the stair and casing, links connecting said hanger arms With said lifting springs, and means for engaging either of said hanger arms to hold said hanger arm steady when said stair is extended.

12. A hanger for a folding stair including, pairs of rods pivotally connected together, threaded ends on said rods, suporting mem bers for engaging said threaded ends adapted to permit said rods to be adjusted to lengthen and shorten the same between the points of attachment of the ends by rotating said rods, said supporting means for the end of said rods Vbeing pivotally connected to permit said rods to fold with the folding of the stair, and lifting springs and arms connecting said rods to cause the stair to be lifted through said rods.

REIN HOLD B. MARSCHKE. 

